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Could Anton Du Beke replace Len Goodman on Strictly? Len thinks so

Strictly Come Dancing judge Len Goodman wants Anton Du Beke to take his role on the panel, following his departure after the next series.

Goodman announced that the BBC show’s upcoming fourteenth series would be his last earlier this year, and Du Beke – who performs as a dance partner on the show – has been hotly tipped by bookies to take his place on the panel.

Speaking to the Kent and Sussex Courtier, Goodman said: “It would be nice if Anton or Karen Hardy took over – someone from the world of ballroom rather than stage or theatre dancing.”

Du Beke is well-loved by fans but has never won the series, his best result coming all the way back in series one when he and his partner Lesley Garrett achieved third place.

Goodman also said he made the decision to leave before people got tired of him on the show, saying: “I am doing one last series – it will be my swansong.

“At the end of the day I have been doing it for 12 years and I wanted to get out before people started saying, ‘Get that old boy off’.”

Strictly Come Dancing is expected to return to BBC One in September 2016.